Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

A controller of an information processing apparatus executes the steps
of; generating a display image based on a page from a server; displaying
the display image; generating print data for printing the display image;
identifying whether a first display image is of the first kind; and
determining whether an operation for enlarging or reducing the first
display image is accepted. The print data generating step includes the
steps of; generating print data for printing a second display image of
the second kind corresponding to the first display image, if the first
display image is of the first kind, or if the first display image is not
of the first kind and an operation for enlarging or reducing is not
accepted; and generating print data for printing the first display image
if the first display image is not of the first kind and an operation for
enlarging or reducing is accepted.

Claims:

1. An information processing apparatus comprising: an operation accepting
unit to accept an operation by a user; a display unit to display an
image; and a controller, the controller comprising: a page acquiring unit
configured to request a server to transmit a page written in a data
description language and acquire a page from the server; a generating
unit configured to generate a display image based on the page acquired
from the server; a display control unit configured to display the
generated display image on the display unit; a print control unit
configured to generate print data for printing the display image
generated by the generating unit, if the operation accepting unit accepts
a print instruction; an identifying unit configured to identify whether a
first display image appearing on the display unit at a point of time when
the operation accepting unit accepts a print instruction is of a first
kind, based on a page corresponding to the first display image; and an
operation determining unit configured to determine whether the operation
accepting unit accepts an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge
or reduce the first display image while the first display image appears
on the display unit, the print control unit being configured to generate
print data for printing a second display image that corresponds to the
first display image and is of a second kind different from the first
kind, if the identifying unit identifies the first display image as the
first kind, or if the identifying unit does not identify the first
display image as the first kind and the operation determining unit
determines that an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or
reduce the first display image is not accepted, and generate print data
for printing the first display image, if the identifying unit does not
identify the first display image as the first kind and the operation
determining unit determines that an operation of giving an instruction to
enlarge or reduce the first display image is accepted.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
generating unit is configured to generate the second display image based
on the page corresponding to the first display image, if the page
corresponding to the first display image includes a description for
generating the second display image of the second kind, and the page
acquiring unit is configured to acquire a page for generating the second
display image of the second kind, if the page corresponding to the first
display image does not include a description for generating the second
display image of the second kind.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
identifying unit is configured to identify the first display image as the
first kind if the page corresponding to the first display image includes
a description of a predetermined command.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
controller further comprises a notification unit configured to notify a
user that the second display image different from the first display image
is to be printed, if the identifying unit identifies the first display
image as the first kind, or if the identifying unit does not identify the
first display image as the first kind and the operation determining unit
determines that an operation for giving an instruction to enlarge or
reduce the first display image is not accepted, and the print control
unit is configured to generate print data for printing the second display
image on condition that the operation accepting unit accepts permission
by the user in response to the notification in the notification step.

5. A printing method performed in a processing apparatus, the processing
apparatus comprising an operation accepting unit to accept an operation
by a user and a display unit to display an image, the method comprising:
a page acquiring step of requesting a server to transmit a page written
in a data description language and acquiring a page from the server; a
generating step of generating a display image based on the page acquired
from the server; a display control step of displaying the generated
display image on the display unit; a print control step of generating
print data for printing the display image generated in the generating
step if the operation accepting unit accepts a print instruction; an
identifying step of identifying whether a first display image appearing
on the display unit at a point of time when the operation accepting unit
accepts a print instruction is of a first kind, based on a page
corresponding to the first display image; and an operation determining
step of determining whether the operation accepting unit accepts an
operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display
image while the first display image appears on the display unit, the
print control step including a step of generating print data for printing
a second display image that corresponds to the first display image and is
of a second kind different from the first kind, if the first display
image is identified as the first kind in the identifying step, or if the
first display image is not identified as the first kind in the
identifying step and it is determined that an operation of giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image is not accepted
in the operation determining step, and a step of generating print data
for printing the first display image, if the first display image is not
identified as the first kind in the identifying step and it is determined
that an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first
display image is accepted in the operation determining step.

6. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein the generating step
includes a step of generating the second display image based on the page
corresponding to the first display image, if the page corresponding to
the first display image includes a description for generating the second
display image of the second kind, and the page acquiring step includes a
step of acquiring a page for generating the second display image of the
second kind, if the page corresponding to the first display image does
not include a description for generating the second display image of the
second kind.

7. The printing method according to claim 5, wherein the identifying step
includes a step of identifying the first display image as the first kind
if the page corresponding to the first display image includes a
description of a predetermined command.

8. The printing method according to claim 5, further comprising a
notification step of notifying a user that the second display image
different from the first display image is to be printed, if the first
display image is identified as the first kind in the identifying step, or
if the first display image is not identified as the first kind in the
identifying step and it is determined that an operation for giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image is not accepted
in the operation determining step, wherein the print control step
includes a step of generating print data for printing the second display
image on condition that the operation accepting unit accepts permission
by the user in response to the notification in the notification step.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a
browsing program executable on a computer for controlling an information
processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising an
operation accepting unit to accept an operation by a user and a display
unit to display an image, the program causing the computer to perform: a
page acquiring step of requesting a server to transmit a page written in
a data description language and acquiring a page from the server; a
generating step of generating a display image based on the page acquired
from the server; a display control step of displaying the generated
display image on the display unit; a print control step of generating
print data for printing the display image generated in the generating
step, if the operation accepting unit accepts a print instruction; an
identifying step of identifying whether a first display image appearing
on the display unit at a point of time when the operation accepting unit
accepts a print instruction is of a first kind, based on a page
corresponding to the first display image; and an operation determining
step of determining whether the operation accepting unit accepts an
operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display
image while the first display image appears on the display unit, the
print control step including a step of generating print data for printing
a second display image that corresponds to the first display image and is
of a second kind different from the first kind, if the first display
image is identified as the first kind in the identifying step, or if the
first display image is not identified as the first kind in the
identifying step and it is determined that an operation of giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image is not accepted
in the operation determining step, and a step of generating print data
for printing the first display image, if the first display image is not
identified as the first kind in the identifying step and it is determined
that an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first
display image is accepted in the operation determining step.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a
browsing program according to claim 9, wherein the generating step
includes a step of generating the second display image based on the page
corresponding to the first display image, if the page corresponding to
the first display image includes a description for generating the second
display image of the second kind, and the page acquiring step includes a
step of acquiring a page for generating the second display image of the
second kind, if the page corresponding to the first display image does
not include a description for generating the second display image of the
second kind.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a
browsing program according to claim 9, wherein the identifying step
includes a step of identifying the first display image as the first kind
if the page corresponding to the first display image includes a
description of a predetermined command.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a
browsing program according to claim 9, wherein the program further causes
the computer to perform a notification step of notifying a user that the
second display image different from the first display image is to be
printed, if the first display image is identified as the first kind in
the identifying step, or if the first display image is not identified as
the first kind in the identifying step and it is determined that an
operation for giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first
display image is not accepted in the operation determining step, and the
print control step includes a step of generating print data for printing
the second display image on condition that the operation accepting unit
accepts permission by the user in response to the notification in the
notification step.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to
Japanese Application No. 2014-230733 filed Nov. 13, 2014, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an information processing
apparatus, a web page printing method, and a non-transitory
computer-readable recording medium encoded with a browsing program. More
specifically, the present invention relates to an information processing
apparatus having a browsing function, a printing method performed in the
information processing apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable
recording medium encoded with a browsing program.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Some of recent image forming apparatuses such as Multi-Function
Peripherals (hereinafter referred to as "MFPs") are loaded with browsing
programs to serve the browsing function of downloading a web page from a
web server and displaying the web page. Servers may provide a web page
most suitable for the device that displays the web page. For example, a
web page for personal computers (hereinafter referred to as "PCs") and a
web page for mobile terminals having display surfaces smaller than the
display surfaces of PCs are prepared in advance, so that the web page for
PCs is transmitted in response to a request from a PC, and the web page
for mobile terminals is transmitted in response to a request from a
mobile terminal. When an image forming apparatus prints a web page, the
web page rendered for display is printed. For example, when a web page
for mobile terminals appears, the image of the web page for mobile
terminals is printed on paper. In this case, a large margin is left on
paper.

[0006] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-054175 discloses a
computer-implemented method for rendering content described by a content
description, the method comprising: (A) providing the content description
and an output device description to a web browser display rendering
engine to generate rendered content suitable for output by a printer, the
rendered content comprising a raster image, wherein the output device
description describes the printer according to at least one input
parameter of the web browser display rendering engine.

[0007] The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-054175
uses the output device description in addition to the content
description, and the he output device description for an output device
should be prepared. It is sometimes difficult to set the output device
description, and the operation of selecting the output device description
is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the
present invention includes an operation accepting unit to accept an
operation by a user, a display unit to display an image, and a
controller. The controller includes: a page acquiring unit configured to
request a server to transmit a page written in a data description
language and acquire a page from the server, a generating unit configured
to generate a display image based on the page acquired from the server, a
display control unit configured to display the generated display image on
the display unit, a print control unit configured to generate print data
for printing the display image generated by the generating unit, if the
operation accepting unit accepts a print instruction, an identifying unit
configured to identify whether a first display image appearing on the
display unit at a point of time when the operation accepting unit accepts
a print instruction is of a first kind, based on a page corresponding to
the first display image, and an operation determining unit configured to
determine whether the operation accepting unit accepts an operation of
giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image while
the first display image appears on the display unit. The print control
unit is configured to generate print data for printing a second display
image that corresponds to the first display image and is of a second kind
different from the first kind, if the identifying unit identifies the
first display image as the first kind, or if the identifying unit does
not identify the first display image as the first kind and the operation
determining unit determines that an operation of giving an instruction to
enlarge or reduce the first display image is not accepted, and to
generate print data for printing the first display image, if the
identifying unit does not identify the first display image as the first
kind and the operation determining unit determines that an operation of
giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image is
accepted.

[0009] A printing method according to another aspect is performed in a
processing apparatus. The processing apparatus includes an operation
accepting unit to accept an operation by a user and a display unit to
display an image. The method includes: a page acquiring step of
requesting a server to transmit a page written in a data description
language and acquiring a page from the server; a generating step of
generating a display image based on the page acquired from the server; a
display control step of displaying the generated display image on the
display unit; a print control step of generating print data for printing
the display image generated in the generating step if the operation
accepting unit accepts a print instruction; an identifying step of
identifying whether a first display image appearing on the display unit
at a point of time when the operation accepting unit accepts a print
instruction is of a first kind, based on a page corresponding to the
first display image; and an operation determining step of determining
whether the operation accepting unit accepts an operation of giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image while the first
display image appears on the display unit. The print control step
includes a step of generating print data for printing a second display
image that corresponds to the first display image and is of a second kind
different from the first kind, if the first display image is identified
as the first kind in the identifying step, or if the first display image
is not identified as the first kind in the identifying step and it is
determined that an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or
reduce the first display image is not accepted in the operation
determining step, and a step of generating print data for printing the
first display image, if the first display image is not identified as the
first kind in the identifying step and it is determined that an operation
of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image is
accepted in the operation determining step.

[0010] A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to a
further aspect of the present invention is encoded with a browsing
program executable on a computer for controlling an information
processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes an
operation accepting unit to accept an operation by a user and a display
unit to display an image. The program causes the computer to perform: a
page acquiring step of requesting a server to transmit a page written in
a data description language and acquiring a page from the server; a
generating step of generating a display image based on the page acquired
from the server; a display control step of displaying the generated
display image on the display unit; a print control step of generating
print data for printing the display image generated in the generating
step, if the operation accepting unit accepts a print instruction; an
identifying step of identifying whether a first display image appearing
on the display unit at a point of time when the operation accepting unit
accepts a print instruction is of a first kind, based on a page
corresponding to the first display image; and an operation determining
step of determining whether the operation accepting unit accepts an
operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display
image while the first display image appears on the display unit. The
print control step includes a step of generating print data for printing
a second display image that corresponds to the first display image and is
of a second kind different from the first kind, if the first display
image is identified as the first kind in the identifying step, or if the
first display image is not identified as the first kind in the
identifying step and it is determined that an operation of giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image is not accepted
in the operation determining step, and a step of generating print data
for printing the first display image, if the first display image is not
identified as the first kind in the identifying step and it is determined
that an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first
display image is accepted in the operation determining step.

[0011] The foregoing and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overview of an image forming system
in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary hardware
configuration of an MFP.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing exemplary functions of the CPU of the
MFP.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display image of the
second kind.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a first diagram showing an example of a display image of
the first kind.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a second diagram showing an example of the display image
of the first kind.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a third diagram showing an example of the display image
of the first kind.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a fourth diagram showing an example of the display image
of the first kind.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a first flowchart showing an example of the procedure of
a browsing process.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a second flowchart showing an example of the procedure
of the browsing process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in
conjunction with the figures. In the following description, the same
parts are denoted with the same reference signs. Their names and
functions are also the same. A detailed description thereof is not
repeated.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overview of an image forming system
in an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, an image
forming system 1 includes a Multi-Function Peripheral (hereinafter
referred to as "MFP") 100, a portable information device 200, personal
computers (hereinafter referred to as "PCs") 300, 300A, and a radio
station 5, each being connected to a network 3. MFP 100 thus can
communicate with PCs 300, 300A and radio station 5 through network 3.

[0025] Although a single MFP connected to network 3 is shown as an example
of the information processing apparatus, the number of MFPs may be one or
more. MFP 100 may be replaced by any other devices having the function of
processing images, for example, such as computers, facsimiles, and
printers.

[0026] Network 3 is a Local Area Network (LAN), either wired or wireless.
Network 3 is connected to the Internet 7. MFP 100 thus can communicate
with a server 400 connected to the Internet 7. Network 3 may not be a LAN
but may be a Wide Area Network (WAN) or a network using the Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

[0027] Portable information device 200 is another example of the
information processing apparatus and is a Personal Digital Assistant
(PDA) such as a smartphone or an electronic paper having the
communication function. Here, portable information device 200 is a
smartphone by way of example. Portable information device 200
communicates by radio with a mobile phone base station to connect to a
mobile phone network to make a call. Portable information device 200 also
has the wireless LAN function.

[0028] Network 3 is further connected with radio station 5. Radio station
5 is a relay device for network 3 and communicates with portable
information device 200 having the wireless LAN communication function to
connect portable information device 200 to network 3. Portable
information device 200 thus can transmit/receive data to/from MFP 100 and
PCs 300, 300A connected to network 3.

[0029] In image forming system 1 in the present embodiment, server 400
functions as a web server. The hardware configuration and functions of
server 400 are well known, and a detailed description thereof is not
repeated here. In response to receiving a page-transmission request
command from any of MFP 100, portable information device 200, and PCs
300, 300A loaded with a browsing program, server 400 sends back a web
page corresponding to the page-transmission request command. The web page
is written in a page description language such as a markup language. The
page-transmission request command is, for example, a GET command in the
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) protocol. The page-transmission
request command includes a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for specifying
a web page. Server 400 here provides a web page of the first kind and a
web page of the second kind having the same URL. If a user agent is
described in the HTTP header of the GET command, the redirect function is
used to send back one of a web page of the first kind and a web page of
the second kind that corresponds to the user agent. The web page of the
first kind is a web page written for MFP 100, portable information device
200, and other devices having display surfaces smaller than PCs 300,
300A. The web page of the second kind is a web page written for PCs 300,
300A and other devices having relatively large display surfaces.

[0030] User agents include a user agent of the first kind and a user agent
of the second kind. A user agent of the first kind is any of a plurality
of user agents determined by sets of the kind and the version of
operating systems installed in MFP 100, portable information device 200,
and other devices. A user agent of the second kind is any of a plurality
of user agents determined by sets of the kind and the version of
operating systems installed in PCs 300, 300A.

[0031] Server 400 sends back a web page of the first kind if a GET command
including a user agent of the first kind is received. Server 400 sends
back a web page of the second kind if a GET command including a user
agent of the second kind is received. Although server 400 provides a web
page of the first kind and a web page of the second kind having the same
URL, it cannot use the redirect function if a user agent is not written
in the HTTP header of the GET command. In this case, server 400 sends
back one of a web page of the first kind and a web page of the second
kind. In the example described below, server 400 sends back a web page of
the second kind if a user agent is not written in the HTTP header of the
GET command.

[0032] Server 400 may send back a web page using CSS (Cascading Style
Sheets) Media Queries. In this case, server 400 sends back the web page
specified by the URL included in the GET command to the device that has
transmitted the GET command, without using the redirect function. The
device, receiving the web page, generates a display image based on the
web page using a style sheet corresponding to the size of the display
screen of that device.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary hardware
configuration of the MFP. Referring to FIG. 2, MFP 100 includes a main
circuit 110, a document scanning unit 130 for scanning a document, an
automatic document feeder 120 for conveying a document to document
scanning unit 130, an image forming unit 140 for forming an image on
paper or other media based on image data output by document scanning unit
130 scanning a document, a paper feed unit 150 for supplying paper to
image forming unit 140, a post-processing unit 155, and an operation
panel 160 serving as a user interface.

[0035] ROM 113 stores a program executed by CPU 111 or data necessary for
executing the program. RAM 114 is used as a working area when CPU 111
executes a program. RAM 114 temporarily stores scan data (image data)
successively sent from document scanning unit 130.

[0036] Operation panel 160 is provided on the top surface of MFP 100.
Operation panel 160 includes a display unit 161 and an operation unit
163. Display unit 161 is a display device such as a liquid crystal
display (LCD) and an organic ELD (Electro-Luminescence Display) and
displays instruction menus to users and information about the acquired
image data. Operation unit 163 includes a plurality of keys and accepts
input of various instructions and data such as characters and numerals
corresponding to keys. Operation unit 163 further includes a touch panel
165 for detecting the position specified by a user on the display surface
of display unit 161. Touch panel 165 is provided on the top surface or
the bottom surface of display unit 161 and outputs the coordinates of the
position specified by the user to CPU 111. Touch panel 165 is a
multi-touch screen panel. If the user specifies a plurality of positions
simultaneously, touch panel 165 outputs the coordinates corresponding to
each of a plurality of positions specified by the user to CPU 111. Touch
panel 165 preferably has a size equal to or larger than the display
surface of display unit 161. Touch panel 165 is superimposed on display
unit 161, so that when the user touches the display surface of display
unit 161, touch panel 165 outputs the coordinates corresponding to each
of one or more positions specified by the user on the display surface of
display unit 161 to CPU 111. Touch panel 165 may be of any type, for
example, a resistive type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared
type, an electromagnetic type, or a capacitive type.

[0037] Automatic document feeder 120 automatically conveys a plurality of
sheets of a document set on a document tray one by one to a predetermined
document scan position set on the platen glass of document scanning unit
130 and outputs the document having a document image read by document
scanning unit 130 to a document output tray. Document scanning unit 130
includes a light source for emitting light to the document conveyed to
the document scan position and a photoelectric transducer for receiving
light reflected by the document to scan a document image based on the
size of the document. The photoelectric transducer converts the received
light into image data, which is an electrical signal, and outputs the
signal to image forming unit 140. Paper feed unit 150 conveys paper
accommodated in a paper feed tray to image forming unit 140.

[0038] Image forming unit 140 forms an image by a well-known
electrophotographic technique. Image forming unit 140 forms an image on
paper conveyed by paper feed unit 150, based on the processed image data
obtained by performing various data processing such as shading correction
on image data input from document scanning unit 130 or the externally
received image data, and discharges paper having an image formed thereon
to post-processing unit 155.

[0039] Post-processing unit 155 includes a plurality of bins for storing
paper and performs post-processing on one or more sheets of paper
conveyed from image forming unit 140. Post-processing includes a sorting
process of successively conveying one or more sheets to a plurality of
bins to sort the sheets into a plurality of sets, a punching process of
punching holes on paper, and a stapling process of driving staples into
paper. Post-processing may include any other processing that conveys or
processes one or more sheets of paper.

[0041] Facsimile unit 117 is connected to the PSTN to transmit/receive
facsimile data. Facsimile unit 117 converts image data read by document
scanning unit 130 or data stored in HDD 116 into facsimile data and
transmits the facsimile data to a facsimile machine connected to the
PSTN. Facsimile unit 117 also stores the received facsimile data into HDD
116 or allows image forming unit 140 to form an image of facsimile data
on paper.

[0042] External storage device 119 is loaded with CD-ROM 119A. CPU 111 can
access CD-ROM 119A through external storage device 119. CPU 111 loads a
program stored in CD-ROM 119A inserted in external storage device 119
into RAM 114 for execution. The program executed by CPU 111 may not be a
program stored in CD-ROM 119A, but a program stored in HDD 116 may be
loaded into RAM 114 for execution. In this case, another computer
connected to network 3 may overwrite the program stored in HDD 116 of MFP
100 or additionally write a new program. Alternatively, MFP 100 may
download a program from another computer connected to the network and
store the program into HDD 116. The program referred to here includes not
only a program directly executable by CPU 111 but also a source program,
a compressed program, and an encrypted program.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an exemplary hardware
configuration of the portable information device. Referring to FIG. 3,
portable information device 200 includes a CPU 211 for controlling the
entire portable information device 200, a camera 212, a flash memory 213
for storing data in a nonvolatile manner, a call unit 215, a radio
communication unit 214 connected to call unit 215, a display unit 216 for
displaying information, an operation unit 217 for accepting input of the
user's operation, and a wireless LAN interface (I/F) 218.

[0044] Radio communication unit 214 communicates by radio with a mobile
phone base station connected to a telephone communication network. Radio
communication unit 214 connects portable information device 200 to a
telephone communication network to enable a call using call unit 215.
Radio communication unit 214 decodes a voice signal obtained by
demodulating a radio signal received from a mobile phone base station and
outputs the decoded signal to call unit 215. Radio communication unit 214
encodes voice input from call unit 215 and transmits the encoded signal
to a mobile phone base station. Call unit 215 includes a microphone and a
speaker. Call unit 215 outputs voice input from radio communication unit
214 from the speaker and outputs voice input from the microphone to radio
communication unit 214. Radio communication unit 214 is controlled by CPU
211 to transmit/receive data through a mobile phone base station and
connects portable information device 200, for example, to the Internet.

[0045] Camera 212 includes a lens and a photoelectric transducer such as a
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. Light collected by
the lens is imaged on the CMOS sensor, and the CMOS sensor converts the
received light into image data for output to CPU 211.

[0046] Display unit 216 is a display device such as a liquid crystal
display (LCD) and an organic ELD and displays instruction menus to the
user and externally received data. Operation unit 217 includes a
plurality of keys to accept input of various instructions and data such
as characters and numerals through the user's operation corresponding to
keys.

[0047] Operation unit 217 includes a touch panel 217A. Touch panel 217A
detects the position specified by the user on the display surface of
display unit 216. Touch panel 217A is provided on the top surface or the
bottom surface of display unit 216 and outputs the coordinates of the
position specified by the user to CPU 211. Touch panel 217A is a
multi-touch screen panel. If the user specifies a plurality of positions
simultaneously, touch panel 217A outputs the coordinates corresponding to
each of a plurality of positions specified by the user to CPU 211. Touch
panel 217A preferably has a size equal to or larger than the display
surface of display unit 216. Touch panel 217A is superimposed on display
unit 216, so that when the user touches the display surface of display
unit 216, touch panel 217A outputs the coordinates corresponding to each
of one or more positions specified by the user on the display surface of
display unit 216 to CPU 211. Touch panel 217A may be of any type, for
example, a resistive type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared
type, an electromagnetic type, or a capacitive type.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating exemplary functions of the CPU of
the MFP. The functions shown in FIG. 4 are the functions formed in CPU
111 by CPU 111 of MFP 100 executing a browsing program stored in ROM 113,
EEPROM 115, HDD 116, or CD-ROM 119A. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 111
includes an operation accepting unit 51 for accepting the operation input
by the user, a browsing unit 53, and a display control unit 55 for
controlling display unit 161.

[0050] Operation accepting unit 51 accepts the operation input by the user
to operation unit 163. The operation accepted by operation accepting unit
51 includes a page-transmission requesting operation. Page transmission
requesting operation is an operation of requesting transmission of a web
page stored in server 400 connected to the Internet 7. For example, when
it is detected that a key in operation unit 163 assigned for a URL is
specified by the user, operation accepting unit 51 accepts a
page-transmission requesting operation for requesting transmission of a
web page specified by the URL assigned to the key. When the URL input by
the user to operation unit 163 is detected, a page-transmission
requesting operation is accepted for requesting transmission of a web
page specified by the detected URL. In a case where the web page
appearing on display unit 161 includes a button linked to another web
page, if touch panel 165 of operation unit 163 detects that the button is
specified, a page-transmission requesting operation is accepted for
requesting transmission of the web page linked to the specified button.
When accepting a page-transmission requesting operation, operation
accepting unit 51 outputs a page acquisition instruction to browsing unit
53. The page acquisition instruction includes the URL assigned to the web
page.

[0051] When a page acquisition instruction is input from operation
accepting unit 51, browsing unit 53 transmits a page-transmission request
command to request the web server connected to the Internet 7 to transmit
a web page, then receives the web page sent from server 400, and outputs
the web page to display control unit 55. Here the page acquisition
instruction input from operation accepting unit 51 includes the URL
assigned to the web page stored in server 400, by way of example. In this
case, browsing unit 53 transmits a page-transmission request command to
server 400 and receives a web page from server 400.

[0052] Browsing unit 53 includes a page acquiring unit 61, a generating
unit 63, a print control unit 65, an identifying unit 71, an operation
determining unit 73, and a notification unit 79. Page acquiring unit 61
receives a page acquisition instruction from operation accepting unit 51.
In response to input of a page acquisition instruction from operation
accepting unit 51, page acquiring unit 61 generates a page-transmission
request command that includes the URL included in the page acquisition
instruction for requesting transmission of a web page. The
page-transmission request command is, for example, a GET command in the
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) protocol. When generating a
page-transmission request command, page acquiring unit 61 transmits the
generated page-transmission request command to server 400 specified by
the URL included in the page-transmission requesting operation, through
communication I/F unit 112. If communication I/F unit 112 receives a web
page from server 400 after the page-transmission request command is
transmitted to server 400, page acquiring unit 61 acquires the received
web page and outputs the acquired web page to generating unit 63 and
identifying unit 71.

[0053] The web page received by page acquiring unit 61 is either a web
page of the first kind or a web page of the second kind. Page acquiring
unit 61 either describes or does not describe a predetermined user agent
in the HTTP header of the GET command. If a user agent is not described,
one of a web page of the first kind and a web page of the second kind is
received. While surfing web sites, the user may receive another web page
linked to a web page. In this case, either a web page of the first kind
or a web page of the second kind is received. When the user wishes a web
page for mobile terminals, a GET command including the user agent of the
first kind may be transmitted, so that a web page of the first kind is
received. When the user wishes a web page for PCs, a GET command
including the user agent of the second kind may be transmitted, so that a
web page of the second kind is received.

[0054] Generating unit 63 generates a display image by interpreting the
web page input from page acquiring unit 61 and outputs the generated
display image to display control unit 55 and print control unit 65.
Display control unit 55 controls display unit 161 so that the display
image input from browsing unit 53 appears on display unit 161. If the web
page includes a description of CSS Media Queries, generating unit 63
interprets the web page to generate a display image. Specifically,
generating unit 63 generates a display image using a style sheet
corresponding to the size of the display screen of MFP 100 among style
sheets defined by the CSS Media Queries written in the web page.

[0055] Print control unit 65 receives a display image from generating unit
63. The operation accepted by operation accepting unit 51 includes a
print operation. For example, a print operation is accepted if it is
detected that the user specifies a key in operation unit 163 assigned for
the operation of giving an instruction for printing. The print operation
is an operation of giving an instruction to print a display image
appearing on display unit 161. When accepting a print operation,
operation accepting unit 51 outputs a print instruction to print control
unit 65 and identifying unit 71. When a print instruction is input from
operation accepting unit 51, print control unit 65 generates print data
based on the display image appearing on display unit 161 and outputs the
generated print data to image forming unit 140. Image forming unit 140
forms the display image on paper, based on the print data input from
generating unit 63.

[0056] Identifying unit 71 specifies the web page corresponding to the
display image appearing on display unit 161 at the point of time when
operation accepting unit 51 accepts a print operation. Specifically, in
response to input of a print instruction from operation accepting unit
51, identifying unit 71 specifies the web page input most recently before
the print instruction is input, among the web pages input from page
acquiring unit 61. Here, among the web pages acquired by page acquiring
unit 61, the web page input most recently before the print instruction is
input is referred to as the currently displayed web page. The display
image appearing on display unit 161 at the point of time when operation
accepting unit 51 accepts a print operation, in other words, the display
image generated based on the currently displayed web page is referred to
as the first display image.

[0057] Identifying unit 71 identifies whether the kind of the first
display image is the first kind, based on the specified, currently
displayed web page. The kinds of display images include the first kind
and the second kind. The first kind is a display image displayed on an
information processing apparatus such as MFP 100 or portable information
device 200 that has a display with a display screen size equal to or
smaller than a predetermined first size. The second kind is a display
image displayed on a device such as PCs 300, 300A that has a display with
a display screen size larger than the predetermined first size. If the
kind of the first display image is identified as the first kind,
identifying unit 71 outputs the identification result to first control
unit 75 and second control unit 77 to indicate that the first display
image is of the first kind. If the kind of the first display image is not
identified as the first kind, identifying unit 71 outputs the
identification result to first control unit 75 and second control unit 77
to indicate that the first display image fails to be identified as the
first kind.

[0058] If the specified, currently displayed web page includes a
description of a predetermined command, identifying unit 71 determines
that the first display image is of the first kind. The description of a
predetermined command is, for example, a description of "viewport" set in
the meta tag, or a description indicating that the size of the display
surface of the device in the media attribute is equal to or smaller than
the first size in CSS Media Queries. The web page including "viewport"
set in the meta tag is often generated on the premise that it is
displayed on a mobile device having a display surface switchable between
the portrait direction and the landscape direction. The web page
including a description indicating that the size of the display surface
of the device in the media attribute is smaller than the first size is
often generated on the premise that it is displayed on a device having a
display surface size equal to or smaller than the first size. The first
display image generated by generating unit 63 based on the currently
displayed web page is generated based on the size of display unit 161.

[0059] The operation accepted by operation accepting unit 51 includes an
operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display
image appearing on display unit 161. The operation of giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image appearing on
display unit 161 includes a zoom-in operation and a zoom-out operation.
The zoom-in operation is an operation of giving an instruction to display
the enlarged first display image. Operation accepting unit 51 accepts a
zoom-in operation when it is detected that a key in operation unit 163
assigned for a zoom-in operation is specified. The zoom-in operation
includes a pinch-out operation. The pinch-out operation is detected from
the user's gesture of spreading two fingers apart while touching touch
panel 165 with the two fingers. Operation accepting unit 51 accepts a
pinch-out operation if touch panel 165 detects the two positions
specified by the user and detects that the distance between the two
positions becomes wide with time. If a zoom-in operation is accepted,
operation accepting unit 51 outputs an enlarged display instruction to
operation determining unit 73 and display control unit 55. If an enlarged
display instruction is input from operation accepting unit 51, display
control unit 55 enlarges a part of the first display image appearing on
display unit 161 and displays the enlarged image on display unit 161.

[0060] The zoom-out operation is an operation to give an instruction to
display a first display image in a reduced size. Operation accepting unit
51 accepts a zoom-out operation when it is detected that the key in
operation unit 163 assigned for a zoom-out operation is specified. The
zoom-out operation includes a pinch-in operation. The pinch-in operation
is detected from the user's gesture of putting two fingers together while
touching touch panel 165 with the two fingers. Operation accepting unit
51 accepts a pinch-in operation if touch panel 165 detects two positions
specified by the user's two fingers and detects that the distance between
the two positions decreases with time. When accepting a zoom-out
operation, operation accepting unit 51 outputs a reduced display
instruction to the operation determining unit and display control unit
55. If a reduced display instruction is input from operation accepting
unit 51, display control unit 55 reduces a part of the first display
image appearing on display unit 161 and displays the reduced image on
display unit 161.

[0061] Operation determining unit 73 receives the first display image
displayed on display unit 161 by display control unit 55. Operation
determining unit 73 determines whether operation accepting unit 51
accepts an operation of giving an instruction to enlarge or reduce the
first display image while the first display image appears on display unit
161. If an enlarged display instruction or a reduced display instruction
is input from operation accepting unit 51 while the first display image
appears on display unit 161, operation determining unit 73 determines
that operation accepting unit 51 accepts an operation of giving an
instruction to enlarge or reduce the first display image. If neither an
enlarged display instruction nor a reduced display instruction is input
from operation accepting unit 51 while the first display image appears on
display unit 161, operation determining unit 73 determines that operation
accepting unit 51 has not accepted an operation of giving an instruction
to enlarge or reduce the first display image. Operation determining unit
73 outputs an operation accepting signal to first control unit 75 and
second control unit 77 in response to an enlarged display instruction or
a reduced display instruction being input from operation accepting unit
51 while the first display image appears on display unit 161.
Alternatively, operation determining unit 73 may output an operation
accepting signal to first control unit 75 and second control unit 77 in
response to an enlarged display instruction being input from operation
accepting unit 51 while the first display image appears on display unit
161, and operation determining unit 73 may not output an operation
accepting signal to first control unit 75 and second control unit 77 if a
reduced display instruction is input from operation accepting unit 51
while the first display image appears on display unit 161.

[0062] Print control unit 65 includes a first control unit 75 and a second
control unit 77. First control unit 75 receives an identification result
from identifying unit 71. If the identification result input from
identifying unit 71 indicates that the first display image is of the
first kind, first control unit 75 outputs a reconstruction instruction to
page acquiring unit 61. If the identification result input from
identifying unit 71 indicates that the first display image fails to be
identified as the first kind and an operation accepting signal is not
input from operation determining unit 73, first control unit 75 outputs a
reconstruction instruction to page acquiring unit 61. If the
identification result input from identifying unit 71 indicates that the
first display image fails to be identified as the first kind and an
operation accepting signal is input from operation determining unit 73,
first control unit 75 outputs nothing to page acquiring unit 61.

[0063] Page acquiring unit 61 includes a setting unit 67. If a
reconstruction instruction is input from first control unit 75, setting
unit 67 determines whether the currently displayed web page includes a
description of CSS Media Queries. If the currently displayed web page
does not include a description of CSS Media Queries, setting unit 67 sets
a user agent of the second kind in the header of the page-transmission
request command for requesting transmission of a web page and transmits
the page-transmission request command to server 400 specified by the URL
included in the page acquisition instruction through communication I/F
unit 112. The user agent of the second kind is any of a plurality of user
agents determined by sets of the kind and the version of operating
systems installed in PCs 300, 300A. The user agent of the second kind may
be stored in HDD 116 in advance. When communication I/F unit 112 receives
a web page from server 400 after the page-transmission request command is
transmitted to server 400, setting unit 67 acquires the received web page
and outputs the acquired web page to generating unit 63. The web page
acquired by setting unit 67 is referred to as a re-acquired web page.

[0064] If the re-acquired web page is input from setting unit 67,
generating unit 63 interprets the re-acquired web page to generate a
second display image and outputs the generated second display image to
print control unit 65. The second display image may be output to display
control unit 55 to allow display control unit 55 to display the second
display image on display unit 161.

[0065] If the currently displayed web page includes a description of CSS
Media Queries, setting unit 67 outputs a generation instruction to
generating unit 63. If a generation instruction is input from setting
unit 67, generating unit 63 interprets the currently displayed web page
to generate a third display image. Specifically, generating unit 63
generates a third display image using a style sheet corresponding to a
device such as a PC having a display screen of relatively large size,
among style sheets defined by the CSS Media Queries written in the
currently displayed web page. Generation unit 63 outputs the generated
third display image to print control unit 65. If a style sheet for
printers is defined by the CSS Media Queries written in the currently
displayed web page, a third display image is generated using that style
sheet. The third display image may be output to display control unit 55
to allow display control unit 55 to display the third display image on
display unit 161.

[0066] First control unit 75 outputs a notification instruction to
notification unit 79 before outputting a reconstruction instruction to
setting unit 67, if the identification result input from identifying unit
71 indicates that the first display image is of the first kind or if the
identification result input from identifying unit 71 indicates that the
first display image fails to be identified as the first kind and an
operation accepting signal is not input from operation determining unit
73.

[0067] In response to input of a notification instruction, notification
unit 79 outputs a message display instruction to display control unit 55.
The message display instruction includes a message to notify the user
that the second display image or the third display image different from
the first display image is to be printed. In response to input of a
message display instruction, display control unit 55 displays a
notification screen on display unit 161. The notification screen includes
a message included in the message display instruction, an OK button for
accepting an operation by the user to permit, and an NG button for
accepting an operation not to permit. If touch panel 165 detects that the
user specifies the OK button in the notification screen, operation
accepting unit 51 accepts an operation to permit by the user. If touch
panel 165 detects that the user specifies the NG button in the
notification screen, operation accepting unit 51 accepts an operation not
to permit by the user. If an operation to permit is accepted, operation
accepting unit 51 outputs a permission signal to first control unit 75.
If an operation not to permit is accepted, operation accepting unit 51
outputs a non-permission signal to first control unit 75.

[0068] First control unit 75 outputs a reconstruction instruction to
setting unit 67 on condition that a permission signal is input from
operation accepting unit 51 after the notification instruction is output
to notification unit 79. First control unit 75 does not output a
reconstruction instruction to setting unit 67 if a non-permission signal
is input from operation accepting unit 51 after the notification
instruction is output to notification unit 79.

[0069] In response to input of the second display image or the third
display image from generating unit 63, first control unit 75 generates
print data based on the second display image or the third display image
and controls image forming unit 140 to form an image of the generated
print data on paper. The display image for PCs is thus formed on paper.

[0070] Second control unit 77 receives the identification result from
identifying unit 71. If the identification result input from identifying
unit 71 indicates that the first display image fails to be identified as
the first kind, and an operation accepting signal is input from operation
determining unit 73, second control unit 77 generates print data based on
the first display image input from generating unit 63 and controls image
forming unit 140 to form an image of the generated print data on paper.
If the identification result input from identifying unit 71 indicates
that the first display image is of the first kind, or if the
identification result input from identifying unit 71 indicates that the
first display image fails to be identified as the first kind and an
operation accepting signal is not input from operation determining unit
73, second control unit 77 does nothing.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display image of the
second kind. Referring to FIG. 5, a display image 500 of the second kind
includes contents 501 to 505, 510 to 512, 520 to 522, 530 to 532.

[0072] FIG. 6 to FIG. 9 are diagrams showing examples of a display image
of the first kind. The display image of the first kind shown here
corresponds to the display image of the second kind shown in FIG. 5. The
display image of the first kind consists of first to fourth pages shown
in FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, respectively.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 6, the first page 610 in the display image of the
first kind is an image in which contents 501 to 505 included in display
image 500 of the second kind are arranged in the vertical direction.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 7, the second page 620 in the display image of
the first kind is an image in which contents 510 to 512 included in
display image 500 of the second kind are arranged in the vertical
direction.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 8, the third page 630 in the display image of the
first kind is an image in which contents 520 to 522 included in display
image 500 of the second kind are arranged in the vertical direction.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 9, the fourth page 640 in the display image of
the first kind is an image in which contents 530 to 532 included in
display image 500 of the second kind are arranged in the vertical
direction.

[0077] For example, if the user operates MFP 100 to perform a print
operation in a state in which any of the first to fourth pages 610, 620,
630, 640 in the display image of the first kind appears as a first
display image on display unit 161, display image 500 of the second kind
is generated as a second display image and formed on paper. For example,
when the first page 610 in the display image of the first kind appears as
a first display image on display unit 161, and if the first display image
is identified as the first kind, display image 500 of the second kind is
generated as a second display image and printed. When the first page 610
in the display image of the first kind appears as a first display image
on display unit 161, and if the first display image is not identified as
the first kind, in other words, if the first display image is identified
as the second kind, or if the first display image is identified as
neither the first kind nor the second kind and neither a zoom-in
operation nor a zoom-out operation is accepted, display image 500 of the
second kind is generated as a second display image and printed. The user
rarely performs a zoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation in a state in
which any of the first to fourth pages 610, 620, 630, 640 in the display
image of the first kind appears on display unit 161.

[0078] The user sometimes operates MFP 100 to input a zoom-in operation or
a zoom-out operation in a state in which display image 500 of the second
kind appears as a first display image on display unit 161. In this case,
if the user performs a zoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation and
thereafter performs a print operation, display image 500 of the second
kind, which is the first display image appearing on display unit 161, is
formed on paper. For example, when display image 500 of the second kind
appears as a first display image on display unit 161, the first display
image is not identified as the first kind. In other words, when display
image 500 of the second kind appears as a first display image on display
unit 161, either the first display image is identified as the second kind
or the first display image is identified as neither the first kind nor
the second kind. In this case, if a zoom-in operation or a zoom-out
operation is accepted, display image 500 of the second kind appearing as
a first display image on display unit 161 is printed.

[0079] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts showing an example of the
procedure of a browsing process. The browsing process is a process
executed by CPU 111 by CPU 111 of MFP 100 executing a browsing program
stored in ROM 113, EEPROM 115, HDD 116, or CD-ROM 119A. Referring to FIG.
10 and FIG. 11, CPU 111 accepts a URL (step S01). If a URL input to
operation unit 163 by the user is detected, the detected URL is accepted.
If a predetermined URL is set, the predetermined URL may be decided at
the point of time when the browsing program is started, without accepting
input of a URL by the user.

[0080] In step S02, a page-transmission request command including the URL
accepted in step S01 is transmitted. The page-transmission request
command is, for example, a GET command. The GET command is transmitted to
a computer specified by the URL, here, server 400 through communication
I/F unit 112.

[0081] In the next step S03, it is determined whether a web page is
received. It is determined whether communication I/F unit 112 receives a
web page from the computer receiving the page-transmission request
command transmitted in step S02, here, server 400. The process waits
until a web page is received from server 400. If a web page is received,
the process proceeds to step S04.

[0082] In step S04, the web page received in step S03 is interpreted, and
a display image is generated. In the next step S05, a display section is
determined. A part of the display image that is to be displayed on
display unit 161 is determined as a display section. The entire display
image is determined as a display section by default. The display section
in the display image then appears on display unit 161 (step S06). The
process then proceeds to step S07.

[0083] In step S07, it is determined whether an operation by the user is
accepted. The operation input by the user to operation unit 163 is
accepted. The operation by the user includes a display change instruction
operation for giving an instruction to change the display section, a page
switch instruction operation for switching the display image to a display
image of another web page, a print instruction operation for printing the
display image, and a termination instruction operation to terminate the
process. The display change instruction operation includes a zoom-in
operation or a zoom-out operation for giving an instruction to enlarge or
reduce the image appearing on display unit 161 and a scroll operation for
giving an instruction to move the display section in the display image.

[0084] In the next step S08, the process branches depending on the
accepted operation. If a display change instruction operation is
accepted, the process proceeds to step S08. If a page switch instruction
operation is accepted, the process proceeds to step S10. If a print
instruction operation is accepted, the process proceeds to step S12. If a
termination instruction operation is accepted, the process ends.

[0085] In step S08, the display section is changed, and the process then
proceeds to step S09. If a zoom-in operation is accepted, the display
section in the display image is zoomed in and displayed on the entire
display unit 161. If a zoom-out operation is accepted, the display
section in the display image is zoomed out and displayed on the entire
display unit 161. If a scroll operation is accepted, the display section
is moved parallel, and the moved display section in the display image
appears on the entire display unit 161. In step S09, the operation
history is stored in HDD 116, and the process then returns to step S06.

[0086] In step S10, a page-transmission request command including the URL
of the switched web page is transmitted. This is the case when the web
page received in step S03 includes a description of linkage to another
web page or when the display image appearing on step S06 includes a
button associated with the URL of another page. If the user's operation
of specifying the button is accepted, a page-transmission request command
including the URL associated with the specified button is transmitted.
The process then proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the operation history
stored in step S09 is deleted, and the process then returns to step S03.

[0087] In step S12, an identifying process is executed. It is identified
whether the kind of the display image appearing on display unit 161 in
step S06 is the first kind, based on the web page received in step S03.
Specifically, if the web page received in step S03 includes a description
of a predetermined command, it is determined that the display image is of
the first kind. The description of a predetermined command includes, for
example, a description of "viewport" specified in the meta tag or a
description indicating that the size of the display surface of the device
in the media attribute is equal to or smaller than the first size in CSS
Media Queries.

[0088] The process branches based on the identification result (step S13).
If the kind of the display image appearing on display unit 161 in step
S06 is not the first kind, the process proceeds to step S14. If it is the
first kind, the process proceeds to step S16. The kind of the display
image appearing on display unit 161 in step S06 fails to be identified as
the first kind, when the kind of the display image is identified as the
second kind, based on the web page received in step S03, or when the kind
of the display image is identified as neither the first kind nor the
second kind, based on the web page received in step S03.

[0089] In step S14, it is determined whether the operations accepted in
step S07 include a zoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation. If the
operation history stored in step S09 includes a zoom-in operation or a
zoom-out operation, the process proceeds to step S15. If not, the process
proceeds to step S16. In step S15, print data is generated based on the
display image generated in step S04, and the process then proceeds to
step S29.

[0090] In step S16, a message is given to the user. Specifically, a
notification screen appears on display unit 161. The notification screen
includes a message that an image different from the display image
appearing on display unit 161 is to be printed, an OK button for
accepting an operation to permit by the user, and an NG button for
accepting an operation not to permit.

[0091] In step S17, it is determined whether permission by the user is
accepted. If the operation by the user of specifying the OK button in the
notification screen is accepted, permission is accepted. If permission by
the user is accepted, the process proceeds to step S18. If not, the
process proceeds to step S28. In step S28, print data is generated based
on the display image generated in step S04, and the process then proceeds
to step S29.

[0092] In step S18, it is determined whether the web page received in step
S03 includes a description of CSS Media Queries. If the web page includes
a description of CSS Media Queries, the process proceeds to step S19. If
not, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S19, a style sheet
corresponding to a device such as a PC having the display surface of a
relatively large size is selected from among style sheets defined by CSS
Media Queries described in the web page received in step S03. A display
image is then generated using the selected style sheet (step S20). Print
data is then generated based on the generated display image (step S21).
The process then proceeds to step S29.

[0093] In step S22, the user agent of the second kind is selected. For
example, one of a plurality of user agents determined by sets of the kind
and the version of operating systems installed in PCs 300, 300A is
selected as the user agent of the second kind. For example, the user
agent of the second kind may be stored in HDD 116 in advance.

[0094] The selected user agent is then set in the header of the
page-transmission request command (step S23), and the process proceeds to
step S24. In step S24, the page-transmission request command is
transmitted to the computer specified by the URL included in the
page-transmission requesting operation, here, server 400, through
communication I/F unit 112. The process waits until communication I/F
unit 112 receives a web page from server 400 (NO in step S25). If a web
page is received (YES in step S25), the process proceeds to step S26. In
step S26, the web page received in step S25 is interpreted, and a display
image is generated. In the next step S27, print data is generated based
on the generated display image, and the process proceeds to step S29.

[0095] In step S29, the display image is formed on paper based on the
print data, and the process returns to step S01. If the process proceeds
from step S15, the display image is formed on paper based on the print
data generated in step S15. If the process proceeds from step S21, the
display image is formed on paper based on the print data generated in
step S21. If the process proceeds from step S27, the display image is
formed on paper based on the print data generated in step S27. If the
process proceeds from step S28, the display image is formed on paper
based on the print data generated in step S28.

[0096] As described above, MFP 100 in the present embodiment functions as
an information processing apparatus. If the first display image is
identified as the first kind, or if the first display image fails to be
identified as the first kind and it is determined that a zoom-in
operation or a zoom-out operation is accepted, MFP 100 generates print
data for printing a second display image that corresponds to the first
display image and is of the second kind different from the first kind.
When the first display image fails to be identified as the first kind,
either the first display image is of the first kind or the first display
image is of the second kind. If the first display image is of the second
kind, it is likely that characters in the first display image are so
small that the user performs a zoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation.
The first display image, therefore, is likely to be of the second kind
when a zoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation is accepted. The first
display image is likely to be of the first kind when a zoom-in operation
or a zoom-out operation is not accepted. Thus, when the first display
image fails to be identified as the first kind and if a zoom-in operation
or a zoom-out operation by the user is not accepted, print data for
printing a second display image of the second kind is generated, assuming
that the first display image is of the first kind. When the first display
image is not identified as the first kind and it is determined that a
zoom-in operation or a zoom-out operation is accepted, print data for
printing the first display image is generated, assuming that the first
display image is of the second kind. A display image suitable for
printing and a display image suitable for printing are thus switchable.

[0097] If the web page corresponding to the first display image includes a
description for generating a second display image of the second kind, for
example, if CSS Media Queries include a description indicating that the
display surface size of the device in the media attribute is larger than
the first size, MFP 100 generates a second display image based on the web
page corresponding to the first display image and thereby can generate a
display image suitable for printing. If the web page corresponding to the
first display image does not include a description for generating a
second display image of the second kind, MFP 100 transmits a GET command
including the user agent of the second kind in the HTTP header to acquire
a web page for generating a display image of the second kind. MFP 100
thus can acquire a web page suitable for printing.

[0098] MFP 100 easily identifies the first display image as the first kind
if the web page corresponding to the first display image includes a
description of a predetermined command, for example, if the web page
includes a description of "viewport" specified in the meta tag or a
description indicating that the display surface size of the device in the
media attribute is equal to or smaller than the first size in CSS Media
Queries. Accordingly, it can be readily determined from the web page
whether the web page is suitable for printing.

[0099] MFP 100 notifies the user that a second display image different
from the first display image will be printed, so that the user can be
notified in advance that the image to be printed is different from the
displayed image. MFP 100 generates print data for printing the second
image on condition that permission by the user is accepted. This
processing can prevent printing of an image not intended by the user.

[0100] Although MFP 100 has been described as an example of the
information processing apparatus in the foregoing embodiment, portable
information device 200 may be loaded with a browsing program similar as
in MFP 100 to serve the similar functions as in MFP 100. It is needless
to say that the present invention can be understood as a printing method
that allows MFP 100 or portable information device 200 to execute the
browsing process shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, and a browsing program
that allows CPU 111 of MFP 100 or CPU 211 of portable information device
200 to execute the printing method.

[0101] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of
illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of
limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited
only by the terms of the appended claims.

Patent applications by Minako Kobayashi, Osaka JP

Patent applications in class Size, resolution, or scale control

Patent applications in all subclasses Size, resolution, or scale control